Quotes from Our Favorite Parents in YA

A couple of weeks ago we wrote a Top Ten Tuesday about our major book turn offs. One of the things we can’t stand is absentee or poorly developed parents. Luckily for us, some authors understand the importance of writing parents who are amazing, understanding and more than just flat characters who get in the way of the protagonist’s happiness. We’re taking time on this Monday to share quotes from some of the best written parents in YA. After all, these standout parents raised some amazing characters, and as mothers Sand and I would like to tip our proverbial hats to these fictional parents.

1. The Sheridans (Park’s parents from “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell): Park’s father met his mother when he was stationed in Korea. They fell in love and he brought her back to the States as his wife. If that wasn’t romantic enough, they still really love each other. Park’s parents aren’t perfect, but they talk to Park and his brother and they’ve given him a loving home. When they’re wrong, they’re willing to admit it and talk to Park about it.

“But Park’s parents loved each other. They kissed each other on the mouth, no matter who was watching.
What are the chances you’d ever meet someone like that? he wondered. Someone you could love forever, someone who would forever love you back? And what did you do when that person was born half a world away?
The math seemed impossible. How did his parents get so lucky.”

“His parents never talked about how they met, but when Park was younger, he used to try to imagine it.
He loved how much they loved each other. It was the thing he thought about when he woke up scared in the middle of the night. Not that they loved him–they were his parents, they had to love him. That they loved each other. They didn’t have to do that.”

“This is new to us, you know? Your mother’s sorry. She’s sorry that she hurt your feelings, and she wants you to invite your girlfriend over for dinner.”
“So that she can make her feel bad and weird?”
“Well she is kind of weird, isn’t she?”
Park didn’t have the energy to be angry. He sighed and let his head fall back on the chair.
His dad kept talking. “Isn’t that why you like her?”

2. The Lancasters (Hazel Grace’s parents from “The Fault in our Stars” by John Green): The Lancasters are facing every parent’s nightmare, they have an only child who is dying from cancer. Yet John Green gave Hazel Grace parents who love her, support her, and are real with their pain and their struggles.

“You are not a grenade, not to us. Thinking about you dying makes us sad, Hazel, but you are not a grenade. You are amazing. You can’t know, sweetie, because you’ve never had a baby become a brilliant young reader with a side interest in horrible television shows, but the joy you bring us is so much greater than the sadness we feel about your illness.” — Mr. Lancaster (Hazel Grace’s dad)

3. The Prices (Mia’s parents from “If I Stay” by Gayle Forman) – Mia’s parents in “If I Stay” have to be the coolest parents ever. They are former punk rockers who are very open with Mia. They talk to her about everything and they are very supportive of Mia’s choices. Even though they’re not into classical music, they always support Mia’s decision to be a cellist. Not only do they support her, they’re her biggest fans.

“Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you.” — Mia’s dad

“You and Adam never struck me as a “high school” relationship. It was nothing like the drunken roll in the back of some guy’s Chevy that passed for a relati0nship when I was in high school. You guys seemed, still seem, in love, truly, deeply. But seventeen is such an inconvenient time to be in love.” –Mia’s mom

4. The Weasleys ** (Ron and Ginny’s parents from the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling): The humble ginger Hogwarts alums may not have had the means of their fellow Purebloods, but they raised seven remarkable Gryffindors who rose to the occasion to stand by Harry’s side (well, maybe not Percy, but even he came around at the end). They might bicker and banter, but they’re also loving and kind to each other and their kids — not to mention Ron’s BFF Harry, whom they treat as their own.

Molly Weasley: “Your sons flew that enchanted car of yours to Surrey and back last night.”

Arthur Weasley: “Did you really? How did it go? . . . I mean, that was very wrong of you boys.”

“Fine,” snapped Mrs. Weasley. “Go naked. And, Harry, make sure you get a picture of him [Ron]. Goodness knows I could do with a laugh.”

“You – will – never – touch – our – children – again!” screamed Mrs. Weasley.”Never trust anything that can think for itself if you cant see where it keeps its brain.” — Mr. Weasley

5. The Spinellis (Francesca’s parents from “Saving Francesca” by Melina Marchetta): The Spinellis are very much in love, so even once Frankie’s mother becomes clinically depressed, her father is completely and utterly devoted to her and their two kids. These are the kind of parents who know how to love unconditionally and whose example of opposite attract partnership has a deep impact on Frankie’s life and romance with her own one and only.

“I used to tell your mother she looked like Sophia Lauren.” He looks at me, frowning, and then it registers.
“Oh God, some guy’s using that line on you, isn’t he?”
“Not just ‘some guy’.” I tell him. “The guy.” (Frankie’s convo with her dad about Will)

“Do something that scares you everyday.” — Frankie’s mom

“Their bedroom has always been our sanctuary. Sometimes at night we’ll end up on their bed just talking. My dad will be snoring and Mia will say, “Turn around, Bobby, you’re snoring,” and he’ll turn around and for a moment it’ll be silent. Then he’ll erupt into a massive snore and Luca and I will kill ourselves laughing and my dad will wake up and bark, “Get to bed!” and not even a second later he’ll be snoring and we’ll kill ourselves laughing again and Mia will say, “What is this? Grand Central Station?”

Yes yes yes! (Btw, the dad in FANGIRL is great too.) We are BIG fans of parents being included and well-developed in stories for all ages. They don’t all have to be perfect — goodness knows most parents aren’t — they just have to be THERE and REAL — because most parents are.

Hello fellow book lovers! Teen Lit Rocks is run by Sandie Chen, a professional book reviewer and film critic. Our contributors are all adult women (librarians, educators, mothers) hailing from across the U.S. and Canada who love to read YA. We support diversity in teen literature and can't wait to discuss our recommendations with you.